Wasn’t It Just?

I thought to myself wasn’t it just September? Then, all of a sudden, Christmas is next week. ¶ One can become even more confused with South Dakota weather patterns. I mean South Dakota weather, for there is no pattern.

¶ Last week we had heavy wet snow. On Wednesday of this week the temperature was in the mid 50s. Tonight the low is predicted to be 10º. And we had the high wind warnings and the truth of the high wind on Wednesday. We did not have the tornados that ripped apart several states in the eastern midwest. ¶ The street plowing in Sioux Falls is erratic, as has been mentioned before. Usually our cul de sac is plowed by the end of the first day of plowing. No so with the heavy, wet lard that fell the previous Friday. Going out to the public worship of the Lord on Sunday morning was a little tricky. Once again I was stuck in the big circle. I managed to free myself and found the main thoroughfares to be clear of snow. Finally, Sunday night, the maintainers roared into the cul de sac. ¶ The citizens of the city had complained for years about the enormous windrow of snow that the plows left across the driveway accesses in the residential areas. One of our city councilors waged a battle for snow gates, and she won! Snow gates are a device that is lowered when the plow passes a driveway to lessen the amount of the white stuff that is left behind. I watched as the plows went by my driveway and the operators never lowered the gates so I received the full benefit of what they were moving around. ¶ I contacted my snow person to come back and clear it and the mailbox which was inundated as well. Even they had a really tough time clearing the driveway. Looking at the city website I found the page where one can complain about the lack of snow gate use, so I did. I received a message later in the week that the situation had been resolved. What? They may have read the complaint and called that a resolution of the issue. Or it may be an automatic reply. I guess I can take great comfort in the fact that my situation is resolved. Will the operators take extra special care when next plowing Manor Circle thinking that I will surely be watching their behavior? Stay tuned… ¶ Any free time this week has been spent on the bench preparing for the Christmas services. There is no lack of music for the season. The difficult part is choosing the numbers to be played and then learning them. Even when one reruns a number, having not played it for twelve months requires some brushing up.

¶ I have an MRI on Wednesday morning. I’ve written before concerning the anxiety I have over the results of that noisy procedure. I don’t seem to notice any particular indications that the cancer may be recurring in my cranium. I didn’t realize it the first time around which only increases the apprehension. I’ll get the results Wednesday afternoon so all will be well after that. ¶ Sophia has taken advantage of some rather dark days to increase her nap time. Cats are notorious sleepers and she is one of the prime examples. She has certain vocations she has determined for herself. Watching the birds and the squirrels on the deck is one. The census of the rabbits in the front garden is another concern. The squirrels and birds in the trees seen from the bedroom window pretty well completes her duties for the day. This is followed by a nap. ¶ Goodies for the season have arrived at the door, for which I am very grateful. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. What you and I can do for others is very much appreciated at this special time. Thanks for reading.